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  • Home
  • PRESERVE
    • Ecology
    • Invasive Species
    • Ponds
    • Clean Ups
    • Trails
  • ENJOY
    • halloween-22
    • Photos
    • Birding >
      • greenHeron
    • Trail Maps
    • Calendar
  • B W Kids
    • Nature Detectives - the latest news
  • History
  • Who We Are
    • Chuan-Chu Chou Blog
    • Perspectives on the Park
    • MemberInfo
    • presidentReport-1Q-21
  • Shop
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  • biancaTemp
  • loisTemp






brightwood park discoveries

Ring-Necked Ducks Returned With Friends!

3/13/2023

 
 
​​In a set of photos that I took between March 1 and 7, you will see seven ring-necked ducks swimming in the pond.  In the beginning of February, three males appeared in the pond and stayed for about two weeks.  Then they moved somewhere else.  Yesterday they came back, this time with another three males plus a female.  You can see and tell how much they enjoy the party.

Mushrooms are my favorite objects.  Here in one of the pictures, with a string of them on the bark of a tree, there appeared a human face on top of the string.

One day before I headed to the park, a handsome red-bellied woodpecker came by to say hello.  I had a Canon SX740 camera on hand that allowed me to take a few snapshots.  Enjoy!

A Flash Treat of Snow

3/9/2023

 
Most of us living in Westfield experienced an interesting period of 18 hours.  We had a calm evening of early spring.  This morning many were caught by a surprise.  It was a typical winter scene.  The trees and the ground were covered by layers of snow. 

Driven by excitement, I ran to Brightwood Park and met my friend and fellow FOBP directorA , JPL, who was already in the park.  We enjoyed the beauty of the park so much and both decided to record what we saw to share with friends and neighbors.  The fence of the Demonstration Garden was coated with snow.  The cages for the newly planted trees once again looked like tents with a nice white blanket on top.

In one of the pictures of geese swimming, at the center top you may find the face of a reindeer overlooking and smiling.

Within 4 hours, the park changed its dress from winter to spring, By noon most of the snow was gone, as seen in the last two pictures.

First Snowfall

3/2/2023

 
 I went to the park around 7:30 a.m. after the season's first snowfall. It was very quiet. I saw no people or animals, just footprints of one other visitor and mine and of a few other creatures.  I could tell that deer and racoons were nearby.  What interested me the most was the footprints in a straight line, with the prints evenly spread out.  I don't believe there was a one-legged animal.

When I walked past the bridge of the dam, I had a strange feeling that someone was watching me.  It turned out to be the ice hanging on a tree branch, with two small holes looking like eyes.  Nature seemed to have a sense of humor by celebrating Halloween on February 28.  I waited a few moments for the "boo!".  


A Foggy Morning Awakening

1/5/2023

 
The weather forecast called for a cloudy morning.  When I was about to set out on a walk in Brightwood Park, I was excited to see the sun working out and breathing heavily.  

The fog was heavy and persisting in the park.  It created an ideal condition for a stage show of the wonder of nature.  The rays of the rising sun and their reflections in the pond, propelled by the gentle breeze, generated a special effect like someone was spinning a wheel next to the stage light.

Walking in the woods, I saw a log with an artistic pattern drawn by fungus.  The pond appeared extremely calm and peaceful.  

A very large number of geese were stranded in the pond by the fog.  They wandered around and waited desperately for the sky to clear. A lone goose flew by and dropped its landing gear.  After making a circle, it landed in the water with a splash, and honked loud as if it was making a reconnaissance report.  Before long, the squadrons responded by starting their engines and took off in formations, by leaving the fog and the ducks behind. 

Have a nice day.

New Discoveries in this new year!

1/4/2023

 
Picture
On the second day of the new year, I went to Brightwood Park to watch the ducks, with special attention to the ring-necked ducks.  The three new visitors seemed to get used to my presence.  One even started to make faces at me.  I wonder if this was the big brother of the trio, as the guy was always in the front when the trio marched into the water.  They partied well with the mallard ducks.  One pair of mallard ducks diligently pursued the new friends in the pond.  The ring-necked ducks searched for food by diving.  Watching them diving was like appreciating a water ballet performance.

The geese and the mallard ducks were probably conditioned by people feeding them here and other places.  Upon seeing me, they swam and even flew toward me.  Watching the movements I felt like a VIP examining a parade of navy fleets equipped with aviation forces.  They even performed exercises of  rescue missions from an ice trap.

I was thankful to the Creator and all the parties in the parks for bringing me so much fun at the opening of the new year.  I hope you and others can enjoy the parks as much as I do.  Have a wonderful 2023!

A New Year's Misty Morning Revelations

1/4/2023

 
Picture
I would like to share with you a few sets of photos taken on the first and the second days of the year.  As a highlight, the dramatic changes of weather in the past few days not only created golden opportunities to capture many rare beautiful scenes of Westfield parks, but also started to attract various kinds of migrating water fowls. 

I was very lucky to catch the moments of the rising sun's rays shining through the woods.  The reflections in the misty pond were spectacular.  In only a few minutes the fog burnt out and the rays  disappeared.  


I chased the fog and it kept running -- past the willow bush and the dam.  The sky was clear and the air was amazingly fresh and pleasant.  Standing in the park and appreciating everything there, I felt surrounded by a symphony played by an orchestra of angels. 
   
Recently, the large pond of Brightwood Park became a popular stop-over place for many migrating geese.  Watching them can be fun as, sometimes, they behave like humans.  For example, while crying and looking around for a friend, one goose almost hit the butt of a diving fellow.  Feeling as if he had been rudely treated, the goose got mad and kept screaming at the other.  Not sure if this was a male-female chasing episode.  

I was also happy to see a trio of male ring-necked ducks looking like floating cotton balls.  Watching them carefully I found a unique character in each face, like siblings acquiring a little bit of each part from their parents to form individual identities.  These ducks are more timid compared to mallard ducks and Canada geese.

Warm to Frigid in the Park - December 2022

1/2/2023

 
Before Christmas, the temperature dropped sharply from close to 60 degrees to 5 degrees Fahrenheit.  Fortunately, in our area, although there was strong wind, the wind did not bring in snow.  I bundled myself up and headed for Brightwood Park in the mornings.  When I left home at sunrise, I was surprised to see a blue jay.  The geese seemed to enjoy being in a tub decorated by gold mosaic tile brought by the morning sun.

Thick ice formed underneath the bridge of the dam, while the water was still running through.  

Near the Fanwood Avenue entrance, a few ice spikes appeared on a wood log, as if the wood was developing a running nose.  Not sure if I could ask it to take a Covid test.

Frozen raindrops and home architecture ... nature at its finest

12/30/2022

 

I love to go to Brightwood Park after a rainy day and a freezing night.  I can often find frozen water drops on grass and moss, like pearl beads hanging everywhere.


Wineberry is not always a pleasant plant to encounter because of the hairy thorns,  However, the branches can look quite pretty under morning sunlight.


A dead tree located between the dam and the eroding slope was broken by the strong wind.  There used to be a large hole in the tree.  Now the airbnb space for birds and squirrels is gone.


A gigantic beehive fell to the ground.  It looked like an outstanding engineering work.  The front had a decent architectural design and the other side was a beautiful art piece.

Always New Discoveries in Brightwood Park

11/16/2022

 

After being in Boston for a week, when I took a walk at Brightwood Park yesterday I found the foliage almost over.  Two turtles were still enjoying the sunlight around noon time.  Judging by the difference in the look of their shells, I guessed there was a parent (or grandparent) accompanied by a youngster.

A few maple leaves were still hanging on a tree,  Four were dancing in the wind as a group.  Another one dressed in a darker color was doing a solo.  The audience happened to be a few remaining leaves on an oak tree.

On the trail leading to Fanwood Avenue entrance, two years ago I found on a slope a tiny patch of orange-colored lichens-like plant.  I was happy to see the plant still being there .  The fallen leaves surrounding formed a frame for the beautiful little creature.

On the back trail, berries of red and purple colors could still be found.  I was wondering if the birds decided to spare them for my entertainment.

A hole on an oak tree near the dam and bridge caught my attention.  After peeking inside I was amazed by the decorative fungi on the wall and a clean and neat wooden floor, looking like a place ready for rent.  Not sure who had been living there but sure enough, the residents kept the place very well.


Brightwood... Prettier every day.

11/1/2022

 
Here is what I saw at Brightwood Park the other afternoon and evening.  
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    Chuan-Chu Chou

    I am a frequent visitor of Brightwood Park and enjoy sharing my discoveries.

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Location

Brightwood Park is on the North end of Prospect Street.  Go past Franklin School and look for the entrance on the left.

What Our Members Are Saying

"I love the work you are doing at Brightwood.  Your efforts have shone a light on the essential elements of the park that we all cherish: its natural beauty and tranquility."

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"I loved growing up in Brightwood Park !"


"I found Brightwood a few years ago and it's a great place to find wildlife, fish, and enjoy nature. Nice and quiet; good place to un wind and relax. Love it!!!"

​"As a resident for almost thirty years in the Brightwood area of Westfield, I am thrilled to see what is happening to improve and preserve Brightwood park for today and future generations. "


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